The 2016 Vanier Cup was a game for the ages.

At one point in the first quarter, the Laval Rouge et Or trailed by 14 points to the Calgary Dinos. The Rouge et Or battled back, led by veteran players like fifth year wide receiver, Felix Faubert-Lussier. With time dwindling in the fourth quarter, Laval had reduced the gap to just two points, and trailed 24-26. The comeback soured however, when Laval quarterback Hugo Richard, deep in Dino territory, dealt a back-breaking interception with less than six minutes remaining on the clock.
For a moment, it seemed Laval’s chance at yet another Vanier Cup had slipped away. But it was a fleeting moment.
The Dino’s drive promptly stalled on the Calgary side of half, and they were forced to punt the ball. In a shocking turn, a Laval player leapt the Calgary front, frantically sprawling to block the punt. He recovered the ball, and the Rouge et Or took over possession. Four plays later, Laval QB Richard was punching the ball into the end zone, and Laval surged into the lead, 31-26. That margin would never close, and the Rouge et Or would capture its ninth Vanier Cup title (the most in Canadian Inter-University Sports history).
At the conclusion of the game, Laval veterans held the trophy aloft and celebrated an historic end to their University careers.
Faubert-Lussier, the Rouge et Or’s star wide receiver, was thrilled to cap his collegiate career in winning fashion.
“It was pretty special playing my last game here in Hamilton for the Vanier Cup,” says Faubert-Lussier.
It was the end of a grueling University season for Faubert-Lussier, but his road to the Vanier Cup can be traced all the way back to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Faubert-Lussier was drafted by the Tiger-Cats 39^th overall, in the fifth round of the 2016 CFL Draft. He entered training camp with an injury, but was able to battle back into the training camp fold. Unfortunately, he suffered a second injury, and was once again sidelined. As a result, his ability to secure an immediate roster spot came into question.

“I came into camp hurt, and I was really far down in the depth charts,” says Faubert-Lussier. “It would have been difficult for me to get time on the field.”
The Tiger-Cats were forced to release him so he could return to school, but were sure to retain his rights.
“The Ticats were straight forward about the situation, so that made my decision easier,” says Faubert-Lussier.
Needless to say, it was still a difficult decision for Faubert-Lussier. All of his belongings had moved with him to Hamilton, and he was reluctant to carry his life nine hours away, especially knowing he had no place to stash it at the other end. His living situation, or lack thereof, wasn’t the only obstacle.
“When you are in an organization and you have your mind on a goal, you can’t really see the bigger picture. In that moment, you’re just focused on your single goal,” says Faubert-Lussier.
Eventually, he would understand the reality of his situation.
“If I had stayed, they would have given my roster spot to someone else,” he admits.
So he packed up his things, and returned to Quebec City.
He lived in teammates’ houses until he found a permanent place to stay, relying on the hospitality of close friends. Faubert-Lussier’s return to Laval was equally tentative on the football front, as he nursed his injuries to start the season, attempting to avoid a flair-up. In time, he was able to settle into his role with the team, and became a game-breaking piece of the Rouge et Or offence.
Faubert-Lussier led Laval through a 2016 season where they suffered just a single loss. The loss was to a provincial rival and football powerhouse, the University of Montreal Carabins. The Rouge et Or would ultimately earn a chance at redemption, and they gladly seized it by capturing the Dunsmore Cup over the Carabins by a score of 20-17. The revenge victory would kick off a playoff run that ended with a Vanier Cup.
“For me, the decision to go back to college wasn’t a setback, because I gained so much when I returned. I won the Vanier cup, I was able to be a respected leader, and I rebuilt my confidence after an injury. So it was an all-around positive experience for me,” says Faubert-Lussier.
The practice of sending a national draft pick back to his University team for an additional year of development isn’t a foreign concept in the CFL. In fact, this year, 2017 sixth round draft pick, Jacob Scarfone, is doing the same.
“It was a difficult decision,” says Scarfone, who experienced similar emotions to Faubert-Lussier when he learned the news. “Obviously being a pro is so tempting, especially with the Hamilton organization. I really love being there, so it was an extremely tough decision.”
Scarfone undoubtedly hopes that his return to University football will be as successful as Faubert-Lussier’s was just one year ago. Regardless of the Gryphon’s performance, he believes his time with the Tiger-Cats will help him improve as a varsity athlete.
“I feel like I already became a better player in the two and a half months I was there. I feel like there’s a huge difference in the player I was at the start of training camp and the player I am today,” says Scarfone.
The young receiver names several Tiger-Cat veterans that helped him with his technique in the short time he spent with the team.
“Terrence Toliver was really good with helping me out. Andy Fantuz as well,” says Scarfone. “I had trouble getting out of my hook breaks, and Andy really helped me with that. In literally five minutes he was able to clear it up, and afterwards I was doing it much better.”
Scarfone is ready to spend another year in development, and return to the Tiger-Cats with more confidence in his game and a better idea of what to expect from the pro level.
As for Faubert-Lussier, he wholeheartedly endorses the decision, saying, “For me, the time I spent in Laval will be my best years of football. I’ll cherish those moments for all my life.”

The 2016 Vanier Cup was a game for the ages.

At one point in the first quarter, the Laval Rouge et Or trailed by 14 points to the Calgary Dinos. The Rouge et Or battled back, led by veteran players like fifth year wide receiver, Felix Faubert-Lussier. With time dwindling in the fourth quarter, Laval had reduced the gap to just two points, and trailed 24-26. The comeback soured however, when Laval quarterback Hugo Richard, deep in Dino territory, dealt a back-breaking interception with less than six minutes remaining on the clock.
For a moment, it seemed Laval’s chance at yet another Vanier Cup had slipped away. But it was a fleeting moment.
The Dino’s drive promptly stalled on the Calgary side of half, and they were forced to punt the ball. In a shocking turn, a Laval player leapt the Calgary front, frantically sprawling to block the punt. He recovered the ball, and the Rouge et Or took over possession. Four plays later, Laval QB Richard was punching the ball into the end zone, and Laval surged into the lead, 31-26. That margin would never close, and the Rouge et Or would capture its ninth Vanier Cup title (the most in Canadian Inter-University Sports history).
At the conclusion of the game, Laval veterans held the trophy aloft and celebrated an historic end to their University careers.
Faubert-Lussier, the Rouge et Or’s star wide receiver, was thrilled to cap his collegiate career in winning fashion.
“It was pretty special playing my last game here in Hamilton for the Vanier Cup,” says Faubert-Lussier.
It was the end of a grueling University season for Faubert-Lussier, but his road to the Vanier Cup can be traced all the way back to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Faubert-Lussier was drafted by the Tiger-Cats 39^th overall, in the fifth round of the 2016 CFL Draft. He entered training camp with an injury, but was able to battle back into the training camp fold. Unfortunately, he suffered a second injury, and was once again sidelined. As a result, his ability to secure an immediate roster spot came into question.

“I came into camp hurt, and I was really far down in the depth charts,” says Faubert-Lussier. “It would have been difficult for me to get time on the field.”
The Tiger-Cats were forced to release him so he could return to school, but were sure to retain his rights.
“The Ticats were straight forward about the situation, so that made my decision easier,” says Faubert-Lussier.
Needless to say, it was still a difficult decision for Faubert-Lussier. All of his belongings had moved with him to Hamilton, and he was reluctant to carry his life nine hours away, especially knowing he had no place to stash it at the other end. His living situation, or lack thereof, wasn’t the only obstacle.
“When you are in an organization and you have your mind on a goal, you can’t really see the bigger picture. In that moment, you’re just focused on your single goal,” says Faubert-Lussier.
Eventually, he would understand the reality of his situation.
“If I had stayed, they would have given my roster spot to someone else,” he admits.
So he packed up his things, and returned to Quebec City.
He lived in teammates’ houses until he found a permanent place to stay, relying on the hospitality of close friends. Faubert-Lussier’s return to Laval was equally tentative on the football front, as he nursed his injuries to start the season, attempting to avoid a flair-up. In time, he was able to settle into his role with the team, and became a game-breaking piece of the Rouge et Or offence.
Faubert-Lussier led Laval through a 2016 season where they suffered just a single loss. The loss was to a provincial rival and football powerhouse, the University of Montreal Carabins. The Rouge et Or would ultimately earn a chance at redemption, and they gladly seized it by capturing the Dunsmore Cup over the Carabins by a score of 20-17. The revenge victory would kick off a playoff run that ended with a Vanier Cup.
“For me, the decision to go back to college wasn’t a setback, because I gained so much when I returned. I won the Vanier cup, I was able to be a respected leader, and I rebuilt my confidence after an injury. So it was an all-around positive experience for me,” says Faubert-Lussier.
The practice of sending a national draft pick back to his University team for an additional year of development isn’t a foreign concept in the CFL. In fact, this year, 2017 sixth round draft pick, Jacob Scarfone, is doing the same.
“It was a difficult decision,” says Scarfone, who experienced similar emotions to Faubert-Lussier when he learned the news. “Obviously being a pro is so tempting, especially with the Hamilton organization. I really love being there, so it was an extremely tough decision.”
Scarfone undoubtedly hopes that his return to University football will be as successful as Faubert-Lussier’s was just one year ago. Regardless of the Gryphon’s performance, he believes his time with the Tiger-Cats will help him improve as a varsity athlete.
“I feel like I already became a better player in the two and a half months I was there. I feel like there’s a huge difference in the player I was at the start of training camp and the player I am today,” says Scarfone.
The young receiver names several Tiger-Cat veterans that helped him with his technique in the short time he spent with the team.
“Terrence Toliver was really good with helping me out. Andy Fantuz as well,” says Scarfone. “I had trouble getting out of my hook breaks, and Andy really helped me with that. In literally five minutes he was able to clear it up, and afterwards I was doing it much better.”
Scarfone is ready to spend another year in development, and return to the Tiger-Cats with more confidence in his game and a better idea of what to expect from the pro level.
As for Faubert-Lussier, he wholeheartedly endorses the decision, saying, “For me, the time I spent in Laval will be my best years of football. I’ll cherish those moments for all my life.”